Setting the Stage

//Setting the Stage

Arthur Seelenfreund (Artie2t) submitted this hand which was played in a club slam by Ravas.

Dlr: West Vul: E-W

North
S A Q J 3
H 9 8 6
D J 7 2
C K J 5
West
S K 9 8 5
H 10 5
D Q 9 6 3
C 9 8 6
East
S 10 6 4
H Q J 4 3
D A 10 8 5 4
C 3
South
S 7 2
H A K 7 2
D K
C A Q 10 7 4 2
WestNorthEastSouth
Pass1CPass1H
Pass1SPass2D1
Pass2HPass4NT
Pass5DPass6C
All pass
(1) Fourth suit forcing

East took his DA at trick one and Ravas won the trump switch with his 10. He saw that he had no chance unless the spade finesse worked, so he led to the SJ, which held. He cashed his remaining clubs and ruffed a diamond in dummy. When he then took dummy’s last two trumps and cashed the HA, the stage was set. This was the position:

North
S A Q 3
H —
D J
C —
West
S K 9 8
H —
D Q
C —
East
S 10 6
H Q J
D —
C —
South
S 7
H K 7 2
D —
C —

Ravas called for the HK, and what could West do? The squeeze was unbreakable and Ravas had his slam and 11.72 points.

About the Author:

Harold Schogger has just celebrated 40 years of bridge teaching. He opened his bridge club in Hendon London in 1983. Since 1997 he has devoted his time to teaching and directing.He holds the Professional Teachers’ Diploma from the English Bridge Union, and now trains teachers for the EBU. He is also a member of the International Bridge Press Association. Harold is the author of Practice Your Rule of 11 and the ebook Bridge for Winners.Harold has been an OKbridge member since 1997. You can see his valuable blog posts here under the category Bridge Hand Review. Harold is also a Premier Life Master.

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